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Hurt

There can be only one man in this town. You need to leave immediately or else. Phoenix 1865, Population 800. This town is now becoming a city, booming with people wanting to live and prosper, a new beginning. Gambling halls have been popping up all over the main street and work is abundant. With gambling comes crime in the newly found city. There is now a group of people controlling every facet of this community. I sit here writing and now can hear gunshots going off in the alley a block away. These men will take everything, including your life if business owners do not pay a substantial fee for protection of their establishments. The Sheriff in town, Richard McCoy is in the street confronting another man as I can see out through the windows from my room overlooking main street. The other man, a hoodlum of sort in this town, Don Cloak, proprietor of Gully’s the local pub in downtown on 1st street near McDowell and Camelback streets. This man the Sheriff is confronting has been a real problem around here. He thinks he is the governor of the community which he is not. The only man who controls everything around here is Sheriff McCoy. I can now here the men hollering at each other, they both have their pistols out. A shot rings out, both men have fallen to the ground. From the deck of Laurie’s clothing store I can see other men dress in black. I believe these men shot at the two men in the street. I watched the other men disappear around the corner of the building and one man remains, peering out, scanning the area when all of a sudden his eyes are watching me within the upstairs window. I pull myself away, hoping that he didn’t see me.

Some of the locals go out into the street to check on the condition of Sheriff McCoy and the other man. McCoy is still breathing, only a shot in the flank but he will survive. Don Cloak is lifeless. The town is in an uproar as to how the men were shot. Could the Sheriff of shot Don Cloak? It is late at night and there is a knock on my door. I am frightened as to whom may be checking my whereabouts. I am new to this community so I have no friends that would be checking me. Scared to say the least, I back away from the door, I’m shaking ,shivers up and down my spine. Who goes there? No answer. The door now starts to rattle, I’m scared, so scared. The door is smashed in, two men with guns are pointing them at me. I am now tied up to a chair in the middle of the room, men are interrogating me on what I witnessed. One man slapped me hard on the side of my head, I’m crying, real blood is oozing down my face. I didn’t see anything, I kept telling the men. Somehow this has to be a dream, this cannot be happening. A shot rang out , many shots. The two men drop to the ground, blood is pooling around their bodies. I am still shaking. A silhouette of a man is standing at the doorway, gun barrel is still smoking. I tried to scream but nothing comes out, I am too frightened. Are you ok? The man asked me. Who is this man standing at the doorway? Who are you? I young lady am Sheriff McCoy. I was let loose of the bindings the two men had me in. I explained to the Sheriff what I had witnessed. Lady, justice will be served in this town, I will make sure of it.

The days went on and crime didn’t stop. The town now with a population of over 100 thousand residents had grown so much. I am now an old lady sitting in a long term care center for the elderly. I still reminisce about the first days of Phoenix and the day I almost died. People in my life have come and gone but memories are forever.

I hope everyone had a great year and celebrated like a champ. I was destinated and could not take part in this years festivities. Still to reflect back on a year of what my wife tells me ” Still above the ground”, I would have to agree with her. I recall one New Years celebration where I was handed one of those horns that blow out a snake. Well instead of blowing I sucked on it and the darn tube sucked right through the mouthpiece and got caught in my throat. I started gaggin…g and everyone thought I was joking around. Me? Joke around! I was having a spasm like no other and was trying to heave the paper out of my throat when Melinda Parsons, My six grade teacher recognized the immediate danger I was in. WHACK! She hit me on the back so hard I almost passed gas. That clog of paper came out and fell into Jonathan Wilburs whiskey he had over there on the table. He stood up and was pissed like no other and came running toward me, like it was my fault. I was still gagging and saliva was pouring out of my mouth when Jonathan Wilbur started hollering at me so loud his teeth fell out and hit the floor, shattering into a gazillion pieces. The dance floor was littered with tooth fragments and I started hearing loud thumping sounds. The dancing people from the party were falling down, tripping on the white pebbles of teeth, falling hard to the ground. Someone called 911 because it was becoming a disaster in the place. Someone had to triage all the fallen victims. I had a little first aid in Mrs Grace’s 8th grade class so I started going to people who really looked bad. One couple did a split and I could tell that their hips were pointing in different directions, just not normal to look at. I got down on my knee and this is when a piece of tooth penertrated my patella. My kneecap was laserated right there and blood started flowing freely. Richard Millagan started wiping up the mess with his hanky. I could hear sirens in the distance so I was feeling a little better about some more qualified people coming in for the patch job. The cops, all one of them who was on duty couldn’t calm everything that was going on that night. He called for backup. Mutual aid from another town came with a response, one other officer. People were now getting up from the floor, drunkin individuals, you know who you are! begun yelling at the cops. I just tried to stay on the ground making myself a patient, faking how bad I really was even though i had some blood running on the floor. Well before long it was New Years and everyone there wanted their money back because the fun was taking right out of them, I cant say I blame them. One thing for sure is today marks the start of another year, Yahoo! We made it, (STILL ABOVE THE GROUND) Happy New Years. First story of the New Years, D.H.Bilodeau 2016

I was traveling from Virginia to Central Maine to spend some time with my folks during Thanksgiving. It was raining real hard so driving was becoming very difficult. I was not getting any help on the driving front because my spouse was sleeping. The sky was becoming very dark and I was getting a feeling that things were going to turn sour real fast.

It was the smell of the Turkey, time spent with my siblings that I was thinking about. I really do believe this is the best holiday of any of them. Family getting together and having a great dinner. The folks will be so happy to have their children and grand child for Thanksgiving. The smiles on their faces, the drinks, and football. I heard a screech and the car in front of me is going sideways, fishtailing, roads are getting slippery now.

The road were getting horrendous and I was slowing the vehicle down to keep safe. We were moving into Southern, Maine over the Portsmouth Bridge when the snow was coming down so hard on Highway 95. The traffic was still moving at a clip when off to the side I noticed a speed limit sign. Wow, when did they move the speed limit up to 75 mph? I asked my wife. Can you believe that, people are going to kill themselves going that fast. I nodded and agreed with her. Still moving North and traveling very fast the car in front of me started slipping and crossed the centerline. The vehicle crashed into a semi, blowing the car into pieces, debris flying through the air.

The debris kept flying and smashed my windshield and something hit me hard. The lights went out. I woke up with dust flying through the air. It was the dust from the airbag. I instantly thought of my wife, how she was doing. I look over and only see her starring into nowhere. Her eyes not blinking. The debris had gone through the window striking her in the chest area. I had lost my love, the only one who understood me, my hugger. What was I going to tell my family, it was going to tear me apart.

The ambulance and fire personal came to our assistance. They dragged her out of the car, looking with a sad face, I knew there was nothing they could do. I was brought to a police car to be questioned and checked to see If I had been drinking. No officer, I told you I haven’t had a drink. The officer responds with me having to walk the line to check for sobriety. I think you need to settle down Mr. or I’m going to take you to jail. I guess I didn’t settle down and I was looking between bars in a jail. Where had everything gone wrong? I was alone, no family and in Jail.

I can tell you people and insist that you do not drink and drive this holiday and make other arrangements if the snow make traveling to bad. No person in this world would want to see anything happen to you, Turkey or not. Enjoy the holiday folks, be smart, don’t drink and drive.

Riding home from work and I see a flash of light beaming in the woods, shinning across the dash of my pickup truck. It really has shocked me to no end. What could this be? I slowed down the truck wheels, grinding to a stop. I really have to fix that right rear brake on this Ford. I’m not sure what to expect walking around the bend to investigate the glowing light in the woods. I am on a back road in Maine, where houses are far and few between. I wonder if I have made a big mistake stepping out of my truck at five-o’clock in the morning. I’ve decided to move forward, a little reluctant, scared? Maybe. As I start approaching the edge of the woods I can see a formation or metal looking structure that is on fire. I can feel the intense heat from quite a ways from the obstacle. There is a bunch of tree’s off to the right, I’m thinking that if I can get there I can get some cover from the heat and get a better view of the carnage. Upon my closer inspection, I can hear music of some sort coming from the vessel, or whatever it is. It sounds to me like jibbersh sounds, kind of galactic noises, nothing like any music we have ever heard on this planet. I want to get closer look to really find out what this thing is. I looked back to the road and no other cars have traveled it so I have no help. I’m feeling a little bit nervous, no really nervous to go out and investigate any further by myself. The crazy side of me has taking over so I grab my gonads and move forward. I was about twenty feet from the vessel what I hear a moaning sound. At first I thought it was the music I was hearing, this was not to be . I see movement on the right side, this is not a human but some oddly looking creature with big green eyes. The arms and legs of this thing looks to be as long as a moose here in Maine. The arms and legs are flailing all over the place, I can tell it is in severe distress. Could it be that this vessel is a UFO? I am one not to believe in all this stuff, but right before my eyes is a true specimen to the fact it is not human. I walk closer, Hey! You. Can I help? Stupid me thinking this thing can talk our language. Hey You! Again no answer. I am now at the feet of this creature, I am in awe of the size of its feet. The feet must be the size of a piglet, real round and fat. Moaning still coming from the creature. I get down real close as to get a better look at the face. I am about a foot from the face when it lets a howl, I fall back, landing on some pine bowels. I get back onto my feet and grab one of the arms to help this creature sit up. I pull with all my might when it is sitting there looking me in the eyes. It has me in a spell, a trance, bright big green eyes are pulling into my mind, I feel myself becoming one of them. I can now also hear a voice. The language is getting clearer now. The creature is talking English and is speaking directly to me. My name is NEMO and what is yours? I’m Rick from Livermore, you have crashed into a cornfield, Are you Alright? Yes, Nemo answers back. I ask a simple question, How did you get here? He starts telling me that his planet was destroyed by a meteor and the only reason he survived was because he was out on a training mission . He told me how his planet was on a mission to wipe out a planet called Earth and that he was going to be the lead attacker. Nemo told me that his GPSR unit had failed and he was not sure where earth was. He also couldn’t fly the ship because the navigation is all controlled by the GPSR unit and no override to control. I walked closer to the ship and was about to peek inside when I felt a sharp laser on my right shoulder, taking me to the ground, my arm was completely severed, I was fading away. Nemo took one more shot with the laser, I was gone. I can hear voices calling again, Nemo? What are you talking about Richard? You must be in a dream, it is time to wake up and bring me to work. Have a great day everyone, always good to be a dreamer.

I can hear the alarm ringing, I’m having a hard time coming out of this dream. I’m trying to reach with my arms, stretching it out like the toy Stretch Armstrong, hitting the button for the second time. Something is wrong with me this morning, I cannot wake myself up. Someone has done something to me, I do not feel well and my vision is all blurred. I’m starting to panic inside my mind. There is a pungent odor inside this bedroom of mine. I can still hear the alarm sound but cannot get to it. There is a glow of light, ever so flickering, within the walls of this room. I can feel the heat upon my face, too much for me to handle, I tuck myself under the covers. I am awakened again by the sounds of sirens, I wonder what has happened, I go back to sleep. The door is crashing down inside the room, two men in suits are hollering something, I cannot hear them. The alarm is still going off, I feel dizzy, I cannot see, I cannot breath.

Please be aware of your surrounding’s. Do not leave candle’s burning at night. Make sure the smoke detectors all work and the batteries have been changed. Have an escape route and a meeting place outside, And NEVER GO BACK INTO A BURNING BUILDING.

A story here in Maine. A young mother and three of her children perish in a fire. A smoke detector was found with the battery removed. We all have to have an alarm system. I also recommend using a Carbon Monoxide detector on each floor. It never hurts to be a little on the ball with this stuff. Carbon Monoxide is the silent killer. No odor and the vapor density is about the same as the air we breath. In other words it floats around just like air. This deadly gas is formed from improper burning. Stay Safe folks and be smart when it comes to your family and heating resources.

I was awaiting the arrival of my new six-horsepower weed-whacker from Bomen’s Store when I heard the coffee pot percolation complete. Oh, the smell of a fresh brewed coffee. I was pouring the coffee when I heard a vehicle come up the driveway. Oh, great my weed-whacker is here. I finished pouring my coffee when out the back window I saw a man dressed in camouflage and carrying a M16 rifle. I jumped back when I saw him point the gun toward the house and then started shooting. The glass in my kitchen window shattered into a million pieces and shards cut through my left arm, slicing layers of skin. I rolled around and was able to crawl to the other side of the house. Army men were surrounding the house and my dog Kogen was barking like crazy, unaware of the impending array of ammo coming toward us. I knew my wife was upstairs getting herself ready for work, I hollered up to her. Martha, are you alright? No answer, I hollered again with the same results. I needed to get upstairs to check on her but also this is where I kept the gun closet and my special MK-115 Carbine/Grenade Launcher. The bullets were making a mess of the house and the noise was beyond the 85 decibels that the ear can handle. I was trying to plug my ears but stay protected somewhat too. I was at the bottom of the stairs and I hollered up again to Martha, Honey, Are you ok ? Answer Me, Martha! She crawled to the top landing, injured from the bullets flying through the house. Blood was coming out of her mouth, probably a chest wound. She was holding something metallic, It was my MK-115 Carbine, she pushed it down over the top edge of the stairs. The gun sliding all the way down and into my hands. I was feeling very secure right now and checked to see if there was ammo inside the weapon. There was a full gun clip and also two grenades. I looked back up the stairs to thank Martha, I could tell she was no longer with us. Oh, no my dear Martha. The bullets are still flying through the house when I got close to a window and launched a grenade out the back window. I crawled out to the front of the house and launched my second grenade. The smoke cleared and I listened for sounds, there was none. I opened the front door and standing in front of it was a soldier, he was pointing his gun at me and mine was pointing at him. We both shot and I felt something penetrate my left arm. I fell to the ground within a seconds. The soldier fell to the ground also, I looked into his eyes, he was dead. I stood outside for quite some time in shock from all that had happened. I stood motionless, needing to find an answer to why these men were at my house. I had to check on Martha, I walked to the top of the stairs and there she was. She opened her eyes and smiled at me. You cannot get rid of me that quick, she replied. I thought you were dead, no honey I will be ok, but get me out of this broken down house. We stumbled around trying to get out of the house, the two of us, arm and arm, alive.

I worried that something was wrong. I told myself that I better go check on my father because he had told me the day earlier that he wasn’t feeling well. I called my twin brother and told him that after my dentist appointment that I would go to see if he was alright.

Our Dad is a strong man, nothing ever seemed to bother him. He was a man of steel and would never show that there was something wrong. I had to think about this because he told me last week he wasn’t feeling well. That’s not like him. We get so caught up in our lives that we have to stop for a minute and think about our loved ones. I knew that I had to get over there as soon as possible to check on him.

I made the short drive over to his house, so worried about him. He was calling out and I missed it. I knocked on the door and there he was sitting where he alway’s sits. I said, Hey Dad, how is it going? Trying to make small talk. He replied and looked at me. NOT GOOD was his response. I about melted right there, not good. I started the third degree of questions, my medic mode also kicked in. So what has been going on? I fainted this morning in bed, I believe I did because when I started coming to, everything was white, I was very dizzy. I have been having tingling in my arms and general weakness.

Sometimes a son has to talk to the folks to make them understand they need to see a doctor. I felt at this point that this was very critical and he should go to the hospital. I was having worries of a possible heart problem or pending stroke. The test were performed and everything in his heart and brain scan was good. It was determined that he had been taking several meds and was having a reaction. The doctors took away three meds that he needed for another issue. He no longer has the dizzy spells but still some tingling in his hands and still somewhat weak.

Oh to have aging parents. I’m not sure if I worry more about them or my own children. The point made here is to make sure you check on your elder folks and when they tell you someone is not right to make sure you react. Stop, Look, and Listen is what they always told me. Now it is time to stop-look-and listen to what they are saying.

Like this:

Many times that I have either received injury or just tripped on something. If for the moment when walking down a sidewalk I would have noticed the not completed brick work. I stepped on the edge and completely wiped out. I hit the floor and never saw it coming. Every have a moment like that?

If for the moment when ice skating as a young man that on the edge of the ice rink was a large pine branch hanging out over the edge. I looked up but too late. I never knew that pine taste so good with chunks of teeth in it.

If for the moment when walking into a dark barn that I would have known the hole was in the hallway, larger enough for one leg to fall through. It took me down in a hurry and I fell sideways into the wall which had nails exposed. I now have permanent red scars on my shoulder.

If for the moment when as a child that sleeping in the newly constructed tree house during a heavy rain storm that it produced a major leak. I jumped back and a nail punctured my back. I remember pulling myself off the nail. I was so embarrassed that I never told anyone. The doctor asked what that scar was in my back later in life. He told me that it hit so close to where it could have killed me.

If for the moment when I jumped into a silage silo, which only looked like five or six feet, ended up more like twelve feet. Darn that hurt. It was a wonder that I didn’t break any bones ,but it sure hurt like hell.

If for the moment when ski racing that I would of turned just a split second quicker. I clipped a racing gate and tumbled all the way down the slope to the finish line. Well almost to the finish line. I came in contact with an iron pole. It wrapped around my back. I couldn’t do anything for two weeks after that one.

I have a lot of IF”S and I’m sure many of you folks have encountered a few. I would really like to hear some. Oh, if the rock I threw would of been a few millimeters away from my friend’s head that he wouldn’t of had stitches. I went through a lot of band aids and survived but really think about if I was only an inch away things wouldn’t have happened.

Like this:

I was driving down an old country road in Aroostook County, Maine. It was a long days work and the travel home was going to take me two hours. It was starting to sprinkle out so the visibility was starting to get worse. I was kind of day dreaming when I looked off to the side of the road and saw rear lights from a car. The car was burrowed into the woods and upside down. My heart started racing, it was going to get much worse.

I stepped out of my vehicle and ran toward the car. It was very dark outside and I remembered I had a flashlight stashed into the side of the door. I turned around real quick to retrieve it when I heard a loud scream. It sounded like a young girl crying. I grabbed the flashlight and went over to the car. Inside was a young women with blood all over her face and by looking at the position she was in that she was jammed inside and just under the dashboard.

I told the young lady, or Corinth later I found out, that she was going to be ok and help was on the way. I looked down toward her legs and noticed that she had broken both legs. I could tell they were broken by the disfigurement in her legs. She was screaming for me to help her. I was almost losing it myself but knew I had to help her. I told her I had to run to my car so I could call for more help. I squeezed her hand, she responded back with a tight grip.

Talking with the dispatcher was killing me because I wanted to get right back to Corinth. I still could hear her screaming from a distance. I told the dispatcher I had to get right back to her after I told her of what injuries she had. I made my way back to the wreaked car, tripping on a piece of debris before I got there and slightly spraining my ankle.

Corinth told me she was eighteen years old and a cheerleader and in her senior year of high school. She looked at me in the eye and said, Sir? Am I going to die? My heart about melted at that point. I had no way of knowing the outcome but she had some serious injuries with loss of blood. I told her she was going to be alright. I started to hear the sirens in the distance, help was soon to be here.

The firefighters had to use the jaws of life to extricate her from the vehicle. I could see the color going out of her face, a very parlor look. They had her out of the car and onto a stretcher. I went up to Corinth and squeezed her hand one more time. She responded with a tight squeeze.

I will never forget this moment. I found out later Corinth died in the hospital from multiple trauma. I’m glad someone was there in her last moments, glad it could be me.

From this experience I quit my job and started taking classes to become a paramedic. I know I can help someone else again, Cant I?

I was targeted by a group of men that I had contact with in Jazimine, Portugal. I entered a room in the back of a clandestine lab in the business district from the alley toward the back room. Walking down the alley I was getting goose bumps. I looked up at the windows above and caught a glimpse of a man. He was hiding behind the curtain and for a moment something shined or reflected a light back toward the room. I’m thinking now that was a pistol or rifle that caught some sunshine and reflected back. I knocked on the door twice and no one answered the door. I pounded on the door again and a large size man opened the door. Who are you? I’m Robert and I’m here to get a package. I was told to arrive here at noon and to pick up a package to deliver to the airport. Ok, Come inside. The large man moved aside and I could see that he was packing a weapon to his side. I was getting very nervous about making this connection with these people. I moved toward the back of the room which reminded me of a small clothing store in the States. The air had a very funny smell, almost chemical like. I, not knowing, this was a clandestine lab. The man frisked me, checking to see if I was carrying any guns, or hiding a wire within my jacket. Someone blindsided me and hit me in my ribs. I fell to the ground and couldn’t breath for a moment. The large man told me to get up off the ground. He was face to face with me. I’m going to tell you once minster who or whom your are. Don’t ever tell anyone about this place! I had a feeling that this was not a normal store selling clothes. The man told me to take this package and go to the airport terminal. A man will approach you with a sign that reads, Arthur Manufacturing. I was instructed to give this package to this man and board the flight going to United States.

The transfer was made and I boarded the flight. I was relaxing in my seat and kept seeing a man with a dark beard turning around and looking at me. I felt like I was being stalked for some reason. The plane landed at LAX at about noon. It looked like a lovely day and I was looking forward to being on home soil. I was walking to retrieve my luggage when I saw this man again who was watching me on the plane. I grabbed my luggage and went to the men’s room. I was sitting on the toilet when the door flung open and the man was pointing a gun at me and instructed me to put my hands up. I put my hands up, totally frightened by the sudden noise and appearance of a man. You are under arrest! I’m thinking to myself, what the heck did I do?

I was escorted to the local LAPD office within the city. Sir, What the heck did I do? I still would not get any confirmation of my wrong doing. I was finger printed and I guess booked in. I was told to put on prison clothing and they shut the gate in my cell. I was totally freaking out at this point. A man in a grey suit approached me and told me that I was being charged for the traffic of crystal meth in large quantities. The charge will put me behind bars for fifty years. My whole life to this point had been without any charges, not even a speeding ticket.

I had been behind bars now for five years when I was let out with good behavior. I walked the streets of LA and had no intentions of ever setting fourth in a prison again. I was walking down the street looking at all the motor vehicles and looking at the beauty around me when a shot rung out, I felt a sting in my right shoulder. I spun around and then another one hit me in the chest and I fell to the ground, bouncing off the pavement. Foam was coming out of my mouth and the last moments of my life was looking into an ants eyes.

The network made sure that I was eliminated so that no other organization could get information of the clandestine operations taking place internationally. I was one man, a courier from within that network.

Stay cool everyone, not every step forward will be met with such a harsh reaction. Remember, one step for mankind. Or, for every action there is and equal and opposite reaction. All things that go up eventually come down. Good Day Everyone. I’m going to enjoy it.

Like this:

I was riddled with rock salt from the old man in Jones’s Field. The big kids in the neighborhood told me about this man who lived in a farmhouse next to the pasture not far from my house. One cold and blustery day I decided to take my moto-ski snowmobile into the pasture and with a curiosity I pointed the snow sled toward the edge of where he lived. I looked up ahead on the trail and I was coming up on the dwelling. I just about got to where the trail opened up to his lawn when I heard a pop sound and something stinging in my chest area. The old man had shot rock salt at me to get me off his property. It was a good thing I had my full face helmet , I would of taken the shot into the face without it.

I turned my sled around real fast as to get a quick escape when out of the corner of my eye I see three dogs running full tilt toward me. I was only about twelve years old at the time I am about crapping my pan’st at this point. Pop! I hear another shot but this time he missed me. I’m thinking in my head this guy is a lunatic and I’m about ready to get eaten by a wolf pack. I looked back for a few seconds and the dogs were right at the back of the sled and I’m punching the throttle right to the pin when it happened. When I was looking back, I forgot to also look forward and I collided into a cement slab that was probably there from where an old silo sat. I went head over tea kettle and landed on the other side of the slab. The dogs stopped right in their tracks and didn’t even come at me. The dogs sensed that I was done in for and walked slowly back to the farm house.

I stood back up, checking myself, when I looked at the damage on the snowmobile. My god, dad was going to kill me, my quest to be a snowmobile racer was never going to happen. I can see my dad now, Son? YOU WILL NEVER RIDE A SNOWMOBILE AGAIN! I knew my dad well. He didn’t take equipment failures and stupidity very good. The skis on the sled were in a v-shaped pattern, or snowplow pattern now. I have skied before and you know with snowplow it is a method of slowing you down. I had about eight miles to get back home with this sled. I started up the snow machine ,very slowly limping back to my home. My chest was still stinging from the rock salt attack. I was so afraid to report to my dad of the encounter with the farmer that I had to make up a story.

His eyes lit up when I showed him the damage to the sled. What in the heck happened? Dad, I went around a corner when going through the woods and smacked into a tree. He didn’t need to know the right story, right? I still to this day will have nightmares about being shot at from this old man. It kind of gave me an “Wizard Of Oz feeling”, he was like a character in a movie. The wicked farmer of the East, all the pigs are singing and the horse’s are talking. I come upon his land and I’m walking up a white road, I presume is salt blocks.

Old man Jones passed away a few years back, I wonder what kind of a person could do this to a young child. I certainly was not out to cause harm to this person. I was not there to steal anything. I was only being a twelve year old kids with an inquisitive mind.

I cried, she was all I had. We met in high school and had been together for 32 years. Honey? I feel something in my breast can you come here and check this out? I went into the bathroom and felt around her breast in a circular motion and there it was. She had a small lump probably the size of a pea. Do you think it is anything honey? I don’t know but you better go have it checked out.

We arrived at the doctors office a little early because we didn’t want to miss this important visit. We sat in the waiting room for it seemed like hours, it was only minutes, but it seemed like a life hours. Miss, you can come in this way. My husband entered the room with me. The doctor came in and felt around my breast and located the lump we had been feeling. Miss, I’m going to send you for a breast exam. This has to be done today. I’m thinking I have so much to do today and this was not in the plans. The doctor told me that you cannot wait. If this is cancer it could spread very rapidly, time is of the essence. Your appointment will be today at eleven this morning.

We traveled to the local hospital and they put me in those hospital suits, I can never understand why these do not have a backside. I guess one can figure it out. Miss? can you please come in here. I’m going to do a breast exam at this station. Your husband will have to stay in the waiting room. The machine examined my breast for it seemed like more angles than I learned in geometry. The test was performed, she told me I could put my street clothes back on. You can wait in the waiting room and the doctor will call you in awhile to talk of the results.

Miss? You can come in here, we need to discuss the results. What the results showed is that I had breast cancer and that I was going to have to make some decisions soon of what treatment. My husband and I were in disbelief and saddened by the results. We knew that we had a long road ahead of us.

We decided, aggressive as it might seem, to have a total mastectomy. We didn’t want to take any chances of it spreading. The operation was performed and many days were spent in bed. I had to have chemo and radiation therapy for a few months. I went in for another exam to see if anything has spread and if the chemo and radiation was doing its job. What the results showed this time totally floored me. The cancer had spread into my lymph nodes and with further exam it was found to be in my lungs and brain. The doctor told me that this was a fast moving form of cancer and that you better go home and live the last remaining time with your family and friends.

I met my wife in high school, she was the most caring and loving wife anyone could ask for. I’m writing this because my wife passed away last night and I’m sitting in the living room weeping. I understand that people live and people die, but why my beautiful wife.

This story was written in support of breast cancer and screening. I hope that all people realized that early screening can save your life. This story was not true in my family, this is only a story. It can however reflect on many woman in this world that are currently fighting this fight. Husband’s are there to help you through. Please support your local or national breast cancer foundations. Good day- Have your screening today.

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Sgt. Richard McCurry was leading his men down a street in Anbar, Afghanistan. He had briefed his men before they walked down the street and informed them to watch all the roof tops. The Taliban would stage up on roof tops and shoot down on the soldiers as they walk down the streets. This was just another day for the soldiers and they moved slowly down the one street watching every corner. I was the third man in this group with Sgt. McCurry walking directly behind me. I had been assigned to WHA- Watch His Ass- This was an important assignment because not only that you had to watch for the enemy, you had to keep your leader safe.

We kept moving forward when all of a sudden gunfire rang out, my heart about exploded with total fear. I looked down the street and lying face down was our point man Jermaine. He was a soldier out of Jacksonville, Florida and was an outstanding athlete in high school. His goal was to sign up for the football draft when he got out of the Army. My worst fear was that Jermaine was not alive. We walked up to him with bullets flying in all directions. It took a few minutes to get up to him and I think I shot a few Taliban along the way. I rolled Jermaine over and he had a smile on his face. He blinked his eyes and said it was a good thing he had his Easter peeps in his pocket. I told him I don’t understand. The bullet hit the package and deflected the bullet. I told him to get up quick and start shooting. We needed to get out of this hot area as soon as possible. Jermaine got up real fast and brought his M16 to firing position and started firing. He took one step forward and another shot rang out and Jermaine fell to the ground again. I walked up to him and there was bleeding coming from his mouth and he was not moving. I could see the color being removed from his face. Jermaine had passed right in front of me. All his hopes and dreams were stopped right at this moment on the streets of Afghanistan. I stood there for a few seconds to reflect what I had just been witness too. I thought to myself, and asked a question. Why am I in this place? I didn’t have time to answer because out of the corner of my eye I could see a Taliban on the roof top ready to shoot. He was aiming his weapon directly at my Sargent. I brought my M16 up real quick and with rapid fire I took down that enemy.

Our group finally made it to the end of the street and there was a tall cement wall that we all got behind for protection and to access the situation. Sargent McCurry told us that we had to go back down that street and retrieve Jermaine. We never leave another soldier behind. Back down the street and again the shooting started. We shot at them and they shot at us but we retrieved Jermaine and dragged him down the street and behind the wall. Our radio man called for a helicopter to come and bring him back to our base. They brought a Chinook helicopter which brought our whole troop back to base. Sargent McCurry had all of us pay our respects to this soldier we lost today. This is what he said to us. You all fought hard today and you win some and lose some. I just want you to remember this young man today and know that he fought for his country. He gave the ultimate sacrifice and to know that in any situation that I hope you will give that same to save others. We all bowed our head in prayer for Jermaine.

Life moved on and I was in a lot of other firefights but I will never forget this one day we lost Jermaine. It has now been 10 years since I have been back to civilian life. I am having trouble sleeping and every noise I hear outside reminds me of a firefight. I cannot drive down the highway without thinking it is an ambush. How can I forget all this and go back to normal life? They never told me that my mind would be damaged like this. I have talked with other vets from other wars on how to relieve these horrid memories. They all told me you will never forget. You just have to move on and realize what you have done for this country.

This story is a fictional story, I do not want to have this bring back bad memories for our soldiers, but do want to realize that PTSD is very real. You cannot go through traumatic situations like war and not have some kind of PTSD. Please reach out for help, Like the old soldier replied, you never forget what you have seen. It is the help that redirects some of these thoughts and gives you second chance of life. You do not need to deal with this alone.

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Where did that ice-cream truck go? I can hear the music playing coming down the street. The kids in the neighborhood and I are now running toward the ice-cream truck. Ding Ding a Ling, here it comes. The lights are flashing and my mouth is already watering. I cannot keep up with the big kids running and they are kicking up dust in my face. I have on my mind an ice-cream sandwich. You know the one with two chocolate cookies, rectangular in shape with ice-cream in the middle. I love it when the ice-cream gets real soft and starts to dribble down the edges. I’m coming boys and girls and don’t buy all the ice-cream sandwiches. I finally arrived at the window and the man in the truck looks at me and states. Hey squirt, what will it be for ya? Being a wise ass young man I replied a poop sandwich. Oh, the look on that guys face when an eight year old boy is being a wise ass. Well he deserved it for calling me a squirt, right?

I will never forget this. Words do hurt people, look at me now I’m writing today about this man that called me a squirt and I’m in my fifties. Words do have an impact on your imagination for life. Remember, sticks and stones can break your bones but words will never hurt you. Well, I totally disagree with this statement. Children are being affected everyday by hurtful words. Kids are being bullied in grade schools and this can be real hurtful to a young lad who will never forget. Schools today are taking steps in the right direction about bullying and rightfully so. I just wish that the ice-cream man never made that comment about me being a squirt, I made a comment back to him that today I wish I never said. One thing to remember and I try to stick to this in my life today. Two wrongs do not make a right. If we all make sure to keep our mouths shut, or keep a tight lip, then maybe children will not be resentful later in life.

I’m standing at the window when this man at the window nods his head. How are you doing young man? I replied, great! Do you have any ice-cream sandwiches? Well yes I do, this is going to be the best sandwich you will ever have, he smiled at me. I will never forget that wonderful man.

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I read an interesting story about a firefighter who was teased about what he does for work. There was an family get together and this one well to do guy comes up to the firefighter and makes a statement. So how is the checkers games going? The firefighter looks at this guy and was about ready to smash him in the face for this rude comment. The firefighter finally gives him a one-two punch.

I drive down every highway around here with ghost haunting me. I remember this couple that was in an accident where the girl is dead and the boyfriend is pinned in the car. The man keeps asking if his girlfriend is alright. The firefighter/medic responds with. she is being taking care of. The girl is dead and he has to lie to the fellow. I personally have been put in this situation. Is anyone really prepared to be of witness to such horrific incidents without some long term affects. I would need another call to reset my memory from the last horrific incident.

I am not alone in this personal affects of the brain. It is compared to PTSD, many firefighters/medic’s are afflicted with this. Still to this day I remember the accident’s like it happened yesterday. There is crosses in the road which are reminders of the incidents that I witnessed. It is somewhat of a trigger every time I see these on the highways.

Back to the man at the gathering. So the firefighter responds with another one. I was at an accident where the mans head was severed from a flying object off a pulp truck. He was not just a object that got struck. He was a man with a wife and four young children. The firefighter responds to the yuppie, So, my checkers game is good. It is the only thing that takes my mind off the horrific incidents I see on my job. I don’t just sit around” asshole” playing checkers all the time. I don’t sit behind a desk with smooth hands and wearing a three piece suit. The next time you see a firefighter remember what they have been through. There is moments on the job that we sit around for the next call but the next call might be your love one that needs our help.

Something to ponder about. I have been witness to a lot in my years of public service. This is what I do and very proud to help people in dire need. I am a firefighter on a on-call department. I was an EMT years ago and have worked on the job site as a firefighter-medic-hazmat tech for 25 years in local paper mills. I have witness many things in my life. So the next time you see a paramedic or firefighter please tell them you support everything they do. Good Day Everyone.

Dispatch, Code 99 in progress please respond to 1112 Park Street. This was a call for help and I was the man on duty. I was eating breakfast with my wife and kids when the call came out. I jumped up quick from the table and spilled my coffee. The wife looked at me and couldn’t believe that I would not stop for a minute to clean up the coffee.. Hey, I have to get going in a hurry, someone’s life is on the line.

In the heat of the moment the only thing you can think of is responding and trying to beat the clock of time for this patient. I jumped into my truck and reached in my pocket for the keys and realized that I didn’t have them, they were in my street clothes. Argh! Back into the house to my wife saying what is the matter? I forgot my keys honey. I rushed up the stairs and retrieved my keys and hurried on back to my truck. I turned on my red light and off I go to try and mitigate, or stop the progression of dying. I’m thinking in my head, ok open the airway, check for signs of circulation, if none start compressions and breathing. I had trained for this so many times and when it is real life you still go back to the basic’s. ABC-Airway-Breathing-Circulation.

The patient was lying prone in the living room and some family members were trying their best to hold their emotions and still try to perform CPR-CardiopulmonaryResuscitation . It is a very hyped up scene when responding to a code 99. We hope that we can respond in time for the patient. The brain will die in about 6 minutes max, lactic acid will start destroying the vital organs in a short time thereafter. Because the family was at the home and were instructed from the dispatcher to stay calm and start performing CPR this patient had a chance. Blood flow to the brain and body was continuing.

The medic with me hooked up the twelve- lead monitor and determined this patient needed to be shocked back to life. Clear! Everyone cleared the patient and Six-Hundred Joules were induced across the heart of this patient. We checked the monitor and a good sinus rhythm was now shown on the screen. The paramedic put some drugs into the veins of this patient and everything was looking good. We had stopped the line of progression of life or death.

The family was instructed to meet at the local hospital and that the patient was stable at the moment but not out of the woods. Because of the lactic acid the patient could have liver, or kidney failure, it could be a long-haul in the hospital.

We as responders will try to do everything possible to change the outcome for a patient. Our own family members sometimes never turn on the switch. It really is a switch from going from family function’s to rescue mode. Sometimes we feel like Jekyll and Hyde. No not really, but to switch modes on a dime is the comparison. Honey, I will clean up the coffee, Just give me a minute, Ok?

I can remember things now. I was driving down from Lake Tahoe to Sun City Arizona the summer of 1981 to go for a job interview when it all happened. It had been a long drive and I should have slept more before taking off. I had a six pack of Red Bull to keep me awake for the long drive and was going to stay at the Hyatt Hotel when I arrived with the interview being the next morning. I was probably sixty miles out from Sun City when I caught myself getting real sleepy. My head nodded but I caught myself and grabbed a Red Bull to keep me awake. I was still driving and about an hour into the ride after the last episode of falling asleep it happened. Unknown to myself at the time but I feel asleep again and the car and I drove off into la la land. The car traveled into the other lane and we went head-on in a pickup truck driven by a young man and his child.

I was in a induced coma for a week because of the swelling in my brain. I woke up with the worst headache one could imagine. Every bone in my body was sore from the trauma I had sustained. The nurse who was taking care of me was in the room when I woke up. Hey Mr. Henry? About time you woke up. Everything was a little blurry at the moment I opened my eyes but standing in front of me was this nurse. Glad to see you are finally awake. How long have I been out? The nurse replied, one week. You have been in a coma induced by the doctors here to let your brain heal up a bit. There was swelling on your brain from the impact of your accident. What accident I asked? You fell asleep while driving and collided with a pickup truck. The other driver you hit and his son didn’t survive. I couldn’t believe the words she had just told me. My heart skipped a beat and it was surreal at the time.

I was discharged from the hospital and my brother and his wife picked me up. The nurse wheeled me out of the hospital and placed me into my brothers car. One the way back home I started to remember bits and pieces of the accident. I remember someone holding my hand through the ordeal. I remember someone holding my head to stabilize it incase I fractured my neck. One guy with sunglasses on kept calling my name, Sir Sir , your going to be alright. I can remember now the helicopter ride to the hospital, the rotors making their noise with blades cutting the air. I now remember being wheeled down the hallway of the hospital with people watching from the edges of the hallway as we were passing by.

The conclusion of this story, or the point of it all, is that when you feel your getting tired when driving make sure you pull over and take a short nap. The other thing is to make sure you get some fresh air and drink a coffee or something before venturing out again on the highway. This story could have been written about anyone and we all have friends or even been there before. Drive safe everyone-Also put down the cell phones- No call is worth dying for.

There was movement behind that tree, Trudy did you see anything? We had been hiking for awhile now and looking for wild boar in the mountains of West Virginia. We had planned this trip for two years and saved up enough money to go to a hunting camp led by Mike Seymour and his entourage. Mike was a well known outdoorsman and had many television shows on the outdoor channel. We contacted him late December and wanted to book for the first of May of the upcoming year. The date was set and Trudy and I was so excited that we finally had enough vacations where we worked and money to take this incredible trip.

Again, a noise from within the woods. I swear Trudy there is something lurking in the woods about 30 meters ahead. I cannot quite make it out. Get your rifle loaded and take the safety off. It might be the big boar that we could trophy on. Ok honey, everything is set here on my rifle. We walked further toward the noise and we saw movement.

I was walking ahead of Trudy and I kept telling her to take baby steps and to keep watching the woods for anything that moves. I took one more step and heard a loud noise and something feeling like my back was hit by a freight truck. I fell to the ground and the light started to dim. I kept trying to reach out for something to hold onto but nothing was there.

Trudy had slipped on a rock and accidently discharged the rifle into her boyfriends backside. Trudy had known exactly what had happened at the moment. She was screaming and shaking all over. There was no one in the woods to help her with him. As she approached her boyfriend a loud screech came from within the woods. Frightened by this sound she was frozen in place. She cocked her rifle to make sure it was ready incase something came after her. She could tell that her boyfriend was still breathing and maybe she could save him. There was blood all over the place.

Trudy looked out and fast approaching was the biggest wild boar she had ever seen. Not that she had seen any before, but had looked at a lot of magazines to know this was one of trophy size. She raised her rifle and tried to calm herself down enough to get a shot at the boar. She pulled the trigger and the animal was dispatched. Trudy looked again and could see no movement from the boar. She now attended to her boyfriend . He was moaning which was a good sign and looked her boyfriend over for what wounds she had inflicted. There was bleeding on his rear-end. She pulled his trousers down and found that the bullet had stuck his buttocks. He was going to live but have one heck of a sore butt. She shook him and he opened his eyes. Honey can you hear me? Yes, what the heck just happened? I shot you Trudy replied, right in the ass. Honey, you have to try and get up, I have something to show you. Trudy helped him to his feet and she pointed in the direction of the boar. Right there next to that pine tree. Oh my god! that is a monster boar. I know Honey, I think it is of trophy size. Even though he was hurting a smile came to his face.

Trudy helped her boyfriend get off the mountain and asked Mike Seymour and his gang to assist in getting the boar off the hill. The boar weighed in at 325 lbs and was the largest in West Virginia history giving Trudy the trophy was the West Virginia Fish and Game Department. There was a picture in the Fish and Game magazine showing the large wild boar she had shot.

Her boyfriend made a quick recovery and was so excited that they got their chance to hunt the West Virginia mountains for wild boar.

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I was awakened by the sound of a loud crash. I looked outside and couldn’t see anything because of the darkness. There was a rumble that shook the whole house and I was freaking out. I put my clothes on in a hurry and made quick time downstairs to see if the house was damaged or a wall had come down. There was nothing to witness within the house, out of the corner window I saw a glow in the woods.

It was very cold out so I grabbed my jacket and hat and some gloves. I went to the cupboard and retrieved the flashlight. When I stepped outside the door I could hear a roaring sound with loud pops every minute or so. I walked closer to the glow and I could now smell something burning. I came to an opening in the woods, before my eyes, and strewn all over the place was burning debris for as far as I could see. The tops of the tree’s were on fire and fire throughout the forest for about five-hundred feet in width.

My mind was reeling and still I could not process what could cause such devastation. I started walking around the perimeter and I saw a suitcase, a doll lying on the ground covered in soot. I now understood what this devastation was. It was a jetliner that had crashed. I got on my cell phone and called 911. Here is the call. Hello dispatcher. I am in the woods and I believe a jetliner has crashed into my backyard. Sir, don’t play games with us. We are an emergency dispatch center and it is a crime to make false accusation’s about something of this nature. I am not fooling around miss, there is flames for as far as I can see. You need to send someone out here in a hurry. There might be people lying in the woods still alive. I’m going to walk around and see if I can find any souls. Sir? You are serious about this? Yes, I’m not kidding, send the fire department out right now. Ok, Sir, I will be dispatching the fire and rescue they will be there soon.

It must of been five or ten minutes and it seemed like the whole state had responded to this scene. I ran back to my house to check on my wife and two children. They were standing in the kitchen and understandably shaken by what they were seeing within the woods. Honey, a jetliner has crashed in the woods. My wife looks at me with a worry on her face. Honey? Is there any survivor’s? I do not know that answer dear but I’m sure the fire department will let us know soon.

We waited in the house for it seemed like eight hours and this one fire chief came into the house and told us that one soul had been found and is in critical condition. The person found was a young lady of around twenty-four years of age. Her passport stated she was from Istanbul and she was coming to America to become a chef in a famous New York restaurant . I asked what hospital they were taking her too. Sir, they will be taking her to Presbyterian Hospital by the Bay. Ok, Thanks chief I appreciate this information.

I walked back out into the woods later when daylight came and was amazed at how much debris was strewn all over the woods. I could see a section of the wing and also the wheels from the jet. There was some things still burning but most of the fires were out. The firefighters had been there all night and were exhausted. The count of souls they found were to be two-hundrend and twenty-five. I started to cry and only had visions of how many families had lost their fathers, mothers, children,brother’s and sister’s. This was going to take me a long time to process and I hugged my family today. We all cried.

I am part of an elite special search and rescue team out of Ashvielle, Texas. Our major concentration and training has been in Search and Rescue. I am special- qualified in low angel rescue and searching with dogs. Our team was called out to the the State of Maine because a woman had gone missing on the Appalachian Trail a week ago. I had my dog Bert with me and another person on my team was going with a search dog too. I had all my gear in my back pack and flashlights for hiking at night if needed. This woman was hiking alone on the AT when she failed to contact her husband Tony two days before. Her husband new that something wasn’t right and called the authorities.

The day started out with all our team meeting at the local fire station in Apton with our team leader Dean giving us a pre-op and giving us coordinates to search for the day. I looked over the map of the terrain that Bert and I would be canvassing and notice the elevation to be around 3200 feet. I had hiking boots with spikes in the bottom which gave me better traction. One of the firefighters gave me a ride closer to the area I would be searching.

I found out that this lady had an enormous amount of hiking experience and that she was well prepared for hiking in the mountains. I’m sure she just went off trail and got lost and that we would find her in no time. Usually our team found most people that we went looking for and I felt like this was going to be the same. I had been all day searching and calling out her name. Julia! Julia! I hollered for her all day and never heard any response back. I called back to my team leader Dean to tell him I had not found any indication of anyone hiking this area. I could find no foot prints and also looked for turned over rocks, or broken whips on the tree’s. The hike was starting to wear me down so I decided to stop and get some water. There was a big rock and the sun was shinning on it brightly which I felt would give me some warmth. Bert sat down next to me and I brought out some water for the both of us. I was looking at my map and making decisions to change course when I thought I heard someone crying from within the wood line about 100 meters ahead. Sometimes when your looking for someone so bad your mind does strange things and I just thought it was my mind thinking I’d heard a voice within the woods. Again, I could hear someone crying. This time Bert’s ears popped up so I knew that I wasn’t just imagining this sound.

Bert and I moved toward the ridge line and into the woods. The crying sound was getting stronger and I know could hear this person calling out, Help! Help! We were about to cross over this stream and down next to the stream and near a large felled tree I saw a woman. I called out, Are You Julia? Yes, Please help me. I got on my two-way radio and called team leader Dean to give him information of my coordinates and that she had been found. Julia was so happy to see me. Here is a link of a true story that happened in Maine. This woman was never found. http://appalachiantrail.com/20131214/search-missing-appalachian-trail-hiker-gerry-largay/

I accessed her condition and found that she had two broken legs from a fall she had taking. She had dragged her injured body at least one mile through the woods. She understood that she needed to get to a stream if she was going to be found. Both her hands were cut up as well. I took out my bandages and wrapped them around her hands. I had soft splints in my gear bag and splinted both legs the best I could. The crying from Julia had stopped. She had no more tears to let out. She was very dehydrated. The rest of my search team embarked upon the scene and we were able to carry her back to the fire station to an awaiting ambulance. Her husband was relieved that his Julia had been found.